Stoker mechanism



Feb. 6, 1940. .1. w. MYERs l sToxER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled April v25, 1930 Feb. 6, 1940. .1. vv. MYERS STOKER MEGHANISM vOriginal Filed April 25, 1930 3, Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1940. J. w.MYERS 2,189,401

STOKER MECHANISM Original Filed April 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 John WMya/45 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES STOKER MECHANISM John W.Myers, Roanoke, Va., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The StandardStoker Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dela- WareOriginal application April 25, 1930, Serial No. 447,365. Divided andthis application April 1, 1935, Serial No. 14,064. Renewed January 24,

, 11 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No.447,365, filed April 25, 1930, for Locomotive stokers, now Patent No.2,007,095, issued July 2, '1935.

The present invention relates to stokers for locomotives or other steamboilers and it appertains particularly to improved means for deflectingand distributing the fuel.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for conveying fuel.in a single stream to a receiving chamber or distributing means, andthere dividing the single stream into a plurality of streams acted uponby projecting means disposed rearward of the fuel.

Another object of the invention consists in providing the chamber towhich the fuel is delivered for discharge into the furnace with apivvotally mounted vane dividing the chamber into a plurality ofcompartments, the vane being movable so as to vary the respective sizesof the compartments.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision ofimproved means for operating the vane mounted in the fuel receivingchamber.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fuel deilectorvane comprising a plurality of sections pivotally mounted at their adthechamber and the firing opening.

More specific objects reside in the advantageous forms, combinations andrelations of parts as hereinafter described and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig, 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stoking apparatustogether with adjacent parts of the locomotive and tender;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the central portion of the tenderof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the forward endportion of the stoking apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, partsthereof being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

lFig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I--T of Fig. 4, withsome parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of the rear portion of one of thevanes together with the adjacent portion ofthe vane operating mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational View of a modified form of the vane;

Fig. l1 is a plan view of the vane illustrated in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.v

Throughout the description and claims, the terms "forward and rearwardand similar terms are used relative to the direction of delivery of thefuel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates a portion of alocomotive, which may be of any desired construction, and 2 thelocomotive tender having a coal bin defined by the inclined walls 3 andgates 4.

Underlying the floor of the tender is a fuel receiving trough-likeconduit 5 into which coal may gravitate from the tender through anopening 6. This opening extends for substantially the entire length ofthe coal bin and may be closed when desired by a plurality of slidablymounted doors 1 which are so arranged that they may be drawn forward oneat a time as the coal is consumed to present a relatively small openingin the desired position in the floor of the bin. 'Ihe conduit 5 may berigidly supportedbeneath the floor of the tender in any suitable manner.

Extending toward the locomotive from the forward portion of the tenderconduit 5 is a conduit I for transferring the coal from the tender tothe locomotive. The forward end of the transfer conduit projects into aconduit I I rigidly mounted upon the backhead I2 of the locomotiveboiler and this last named conduit -extends upwardly and communicateswith a chamber I3 projecting into the fire box opening I4 formed in theboiler backhead. The transfer conduit I0 and the conduit Il form ineffect a delivery conduit which at one end receives fuel from the tenderconduit and at the other end delivers fuel to the fire box.

The Vrear portion ofthe transfer conduit I0 eX- tends beneath the floorof the tender and is enlarged as at I5 to form a hopper forreceivingcoal directly from the tender through an opening I6 formed in the floorof the latter. This opening may advantageously be closed by a door I1hiugedly mounted along one edgethereof. The rear end of the .transferconduit is preferably supported by the forward portion of the tenderconduit and is connected thereto so as to have universal movement withrespect thereto. However, to prevent the transfer conduit from rotatingaxially it may be conveniently provided with a screw I8 or any othersuitable means which extends into a slot I9 formed in the upper surfaceof the adjacent portion of the tender conduit, the slot extendinglongitudinally of the axis of the latter. The forward end of thetransfer conduit is supported by the upwardly extending conduit I I andin order that it may have universal movement with respect thereto it isprovided with a sleeve spherically curved on its outer surface tocooperate with a correspondingly curved portion of the conduit II. Thetransfer conduit is slidable with respect to the sleeve 20 so that uponthe uncoupling of the locomotive and tender it may be readily withdrawnfrom the conduit II.

Spiral conveyors 2l and 22 are respectively disposed within the tenderand transfer conduits for advancing or feeding the fuel therethrough.The rear end of the transfer conveyor extends into the hopper I5 toadvance the fuel delivered to the latter through the tender conduit 5 orthrough the opening I6 in the floor of the tender. Furthermore, the rearend of the transfer conveyor is offset below the adjacent portion of thetender conveyor so that the coal advanced by the latter will fall bygravity onto the former.

'Ihe conveyors are rotated through the intermediacy of a plurality ofgears disposed within a box 23 at the rear end of the tender conduit.'I'he motive power may be furnished by a suitable motor, shafting andgearing, not shown here but as fully disclosed and described in myparent application, for driving a gear 21 splined upon a shaft 28 whichextends forwardly from the box 23 and is universally connected byshafting 29 to the transfer conveyor 22. In this manner the transferconveyor 22 is at all times connected to the driving motor. The rearportion of the shaft of the tender conveyor extends into the gear box 23and is provided with a gear 30 which is freely rotatable thereon and inmesh with gear ',21. For imparting movement to the tender conveyorthrough the intermediacy of the gears 21 and 30 a clutch member 3| isslidably keyed to the shaft of the conveyor. This clutch member isprovided with inwardly projecting lugs or teeth 32 adapted tocooperatively engage outwardly projecting lugs or teeth 33 formed on thegear 30. Although any suitable means may be employed for operating theclutch I have illustrated a rock shaft 34 journalled in the side wallsof the gear box upon which is rigidly mounted a bifurcated member 35having inwardly lprojecting pins or lugs 36 which extend into aperipheral groove 31 formed in the clutch member. The shaft 34 may berigidly pro vided with an arm (not shown) which may extend forwardly soas to be easily manipulated by an operator.

To prevent the tender conveyor from becoming clogged due to the presenceof large lumps of coal a crushing member 40 is disposed adjacent theforward portion of the conveyor. It is preferred, also, to equip thehopper I5 with a crusher 40a of the same construction so that the coaldelivered directly to the hopper from the tender may also be broken up.

In order to prevent spilling or the escape of coal from the upwardlyextending conduit II when the transfer conduit is withdrawn therefromupon uncoupling of the tender and locomotive, means is preferablyemployed for sun porting the coal therein. In the present embodiment ofthe invention this means comprises a member having a plurality offingers or the like 46 movable into the lower portion of the conduit. Toconveniently maintain the member 45 in an inoperative position it may bedisposed within a housing 41 formed integrally with the conduit. A pin48 is preferably cooperable with one of the fingers of the member toprevent the latter from being moved accidentally into the conduit Whilethe stoker is in operation.

The fuel receiving chamber I3 has a portion extending rearwardly fromthe backhead of the boiler which constitutes a continuation of theconduit II and is preferably secured thereto by bolts 49. Thisrearwardly extending portion is open at top and bottom but is formedwith side walls 5I) and an upwardly inclined rear wall. The

bottom opening of the chamber communicates with the conduit II while thetop opening communicates with the firing opening I4 to equalize thedraft conditions in the chamber and the firing opening to avoid creatingan intense draft in the chamber such as would interfere with thepropelling action of the fuel distributing blast to be hereinafterdescribed. The forward portion of the chamber extends through the re boxopening and is of box-like shape having the side walls 50a. and top andbottom walls or plates 5I and 52, respectively, forming a dischargemouth for the conduit II. Projecting forwardly from the bottom wall 52is a distributor plate 53 from which the coal is discharged into thefire box. As the distributor plate is subjected to the intense heatwithin the iire box it is preferably detachably secured to the bottomwall by pins 54 so that it may be easily disconnected therefrom and anew one inserted in its place. The pins 54 extend through rearwardlyprojecting extensions 55 of the distributor plate and through adjacentportions of the wall 52 which are recessed as at 56 -to receivetheiextensions 55.

Disposed within the chamber I3 are a plurality of substantially verticalvanes or members 51 dividing the latter into a plurality of compartmentsand in effect splitting the single fuel stream rising from the conduitinto a plurality of streams. Each of the vanes is provided withoppositely projecting trunnions 58 which extend into aligned openingsformed in the top and bottom walls 5I and 52 of the box-like portion ofthe chamber. 'I'hese trunnions are preferably in the form of screws sothat they may be disconnected from the vanes to permit removal of thelatter from the chamber.

As it is often desirable to supply a greater amount of coal to oneportion of the fire box than to another, means is employed whereby thevanes may be moved to vary the respective sizes oi the compartmentswhich they define. In the present embodiment of the invention aplurality of means is employed so that the vanes may be shiftedindependently of each other. Each of these means comprises ascrew-threaded shaft 59 extending transversely of the chamber and a nutmember 60 cooperable with the rear portion of the adjacent vane. Theouter ends of the shafts are journalled in the adjacent side walls ofthe chamber while the inner ends thereof are journalled in an inwardlyprojecting lug 6I formed integrally with the rear wall of the chamber.'I'he forward ends of the nut members 60 are provided with jaws 62 forreceiving therebetween the adjacent portion of the associated vane. Tomaintain the jaws in spaced relation and at the same time to prevent thenut member from ro tating around the shaft a ller block 63 is prefer-CFI ably interposed between the jaws and extends into a slot 64 formedin the rear portion of the vane.

This construction results in a rather loose connection between the vanesand their operating members which 4is particularly desirable as itpermits the vanes to move slightly laterally to enable the coal toreadily pass on opposite sides thereof. By rotating the shafts 59 byhandles 65 with which they may be respectively provided the size orcapacity of the compartments may be varied to control the quantity ofcoal delivered to different portions of the fire box. Thus if it isdesired to supply a greater amount of coal to the center portion of thefire box than to the side portions thereof the rear ends of the vanesmay be moved to increase the 'distance between them, thereby increasingthe capacity of the center compartment and insuring delivery of morecoal to the center of the fire box. On the other hand, if it is desiredto supply a greater amount of coal to the side portions of the re boxthan to the center thereof the ends of the vanes may be moved towardeach other to increase the capacity of the side compartments.

Projecting inwardly into the fuel receiving chamber through the rearwall thereof into the path of movement of the fuel is a steam nozzle 66.This nozzle is preferably of box-like shape and its bottom wall inclinedupwardly from the rear of the chamber I3 so as to not unnecessarilyimpede the rise of the coal in the upwardly extending conduit I I. Theinterior of the nozzle is divided by partition walls 61 into a pluralityof compartments, the number of compartments in the nozzle correspondingto the number in the fuel chamber. Each of the nozzle compartments isprovided with a plurality of outlet openings 68 and an inlet opening 69,the latter communieating with a steam pipe 10 having a control valve 1I.In order that the steam blast issuing from the opening 68 will notscatter the coal from one compartment to anothervand in order to preventthe coal from packing under the vanes the openings 68 are so arrangedthat the steam will meet the coal at about the same time the coal risesto the lower edges of the vanes. As best shown in Fig. 3, the openings68 in the stream nozzle 66 are below the horizontal medial plane of themouth of the discharge conduit II defined by the side walls 50a and topand bottom walls 5I and 52. As the steam fans out upon leaving thenozzle the lower edges of the vanes preferably taper or inclinedownwardly from adjacent the nozzle to the forward portion of thechamber I3.

Just beneath the steam nozzle there is an opening 12 in the rear wall ofthe chamber I3 for admitting air thereto. The draft of the locomotivecombined with the draft created by'the steaml blast will draw suiiicientair through this opening tof/prevent the coal from packing under thenozzle and to assist in carrying the coal forward to the steam blast.

The forward portion of each of the vanes is in the form of a deflector13 having curved portions which extend laterally from the body portionof the vane. Since the deilecting portions of the vanes are subjected tothe intense heat lugs 14 and the portion 15 being formed withregistering apertures to receive a connecting bolt or pin 16. The pins16 form a tight nt so that the deflectors 13 are not moved byimpingement. of the fuel projected through the chamber I3; however, thereectors may be moved manually independently of the body portions of thevanes.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the principal figures of thedrawings, the deiiector consists of a curved plate, the axis ofcurvature of which is preferably vertical. The lower edge of the plateinclines upwardly and outwardly from adjacent the bottom wall of thebox-like portion of the chamber I3 to adjacent the top wall thereofwhereby it will be seen that the deflector extends laterally of the vanea greater distance adjacent its upper portion than adjacent its lowerportion. Thus the coal engaging the upper portion of the deflector isdirected at substantially right angles to the vane toward the backcorners of the fire box while the coal engaging the lower portionthereof leaves the chamber in a. substantially straight line. As coalengaging intermediate portions of the deflector leaves the chamber atvarying angles it will be evenly distributed over the entire grate areaof the fire box. A vane of this type is particularly effective when coalwhich is more or less finely divided is used because the steam blastwill tend to blow the coal toward the top of the chamber as it is beingpropelled therethrough. The top wall 5I serves to limit upward movementof fuel which is carried thereagainst by the expanding blasts ofpressure fluid which issue from the steam nozzle 66. 'I'his wall 5I alsocooperates with thel deflector 13 in preventing fuel which strikes theupper portion of the deectors from ricochetting in an upward directionwhere it can A,

be carried oif unconsumed by the locomotive draft.

When coal having a large proportion of lumps is used, the form of thedeflector illustrated in Figures l10 to 12 is preferably employed. Thistype of deflector primarily differs from the other in that it extendslaterally of the vane'a greater distance adjacent the lower edge thereofthan adjacent the upper edge. Furthermore instead of being of plate formthis deflector is formed with a plurality of stepped portions 11 whichare of progressively increased width from adjacent the bottom of thechamber I3 to the top thereof. Also the lower step of the steps 11tapers inwardly from its outer edges toward the vane so that the coalengaging the lower step will be projected from the chamber at a greaterangle to the vane than the coal engaging the upper ones. Y

I claim:

1. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an approximately horizontallydisposed fuel receiving chamber having an upward intake opening and anoutlet opening adapted for the delivery of fuel to a furnace, means forfeeding fuel to the intake opening of said chamber, a substantiallyvertical longitudinally extending vane pivotally mounted in said chamberdividing the latter into a plurality of compartments each open at oneend to receive fuel through said upward intake opening from said feedingmeans and open at the opposite end for discharge of fuel to the furnace,a deflector pivotally mounted on the forward end of the vane on anupright axis, said deflector curving forwardly and laterally from theforward end of said vane, the length of said deflector in successivecross sections from its lower to its upper end being progressivelygreater, said deflector being adapted for pivotal adjustmentindependently of adjustment of said vane, and means at the rear of saidcompartments for projecting fuel forwardly therethrough and outwardlyfrom the outlet opening of the chamber.

2. The combination in a stoking apparatus, of a fuel chamber having anoutlet opening adapted for the delivery of fuel to a furnace and aninlet opening remote from the said inlet opening, means at the rear ofsaid chamber for projecting fuel forwardly therethrough and outwardlyfrom the outlet opening of the chamber, a vane in said fuel chamberextending substantially in the direction of delivery of fueltherethrough, said vane comprising a rearward portion mounted forpivotal adjustment about its forward end, and a forward portion carriedby said rearward portion and arranged for bodily movement therewithabout the axis of the pivotal mounting of said-rearward portion, saidforward portion being mounted at its rearward end on said rearwardportion for pivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of saidrearward portion.

3. In a. stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, adeflector mounted on an upright axis on the end of said vane within saidportion for pivotal adjustment, and means for adjusting said vane aboutits pivot.

4. In a staking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a fuel delivery chamber mounted thereon, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver horizontally into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion for horizontaladjustment, a deflector mounted for horizontal pivotal adjustment on theend of said vane within said portion, and means for adjusting said vaneabout its pivot.

5. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into 'the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis,and a deflector mounted on the end of said vane Within said portion onan upright axis forward of the upright pivotal axis of said vane forpivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane.

6. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, a

deector mounted on the end of said vane within said portion on anupright axis forward of the upright pivotal axis of said vane forpivotal adjustment independently of adjustment of said vane, and meansfor adjusting said vane and said deflector about the axis of said vane.

7. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis, adeflector mounted on an upright axis on the end of said vane within saidportion for pivotal adjustment, means for adjusting said vane about itspivot, and fuel projecting means in said chamber acting against the fuelemerging from said conduit at the sides of said vane,

8. In a stoking apparatus; in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit.,v a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit, the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a furnace, a vane at the delivery end of saidconduit in the path of the fuel, extending into the delivery portion ofsaid chamber and pivotally mounted in said portion on an upright axis,means for adjusting said vane about its axis, a deflector mounted on theend of said vane within said portion on an upright axis forward of theupright pivotal axis of said vane for pivotal adjustment independentlyof adjustment of said vane, and fuel projecting means in said chamberacting against the fuel emerging from said conduit at the sides of saidvane.

9. In a stoking apparatus, in combination, an upward directed fuelconduit, a chamber surmounting said fuel conduit the conduit beingadapted to discharge into said chamber and said chamber being adapted todeliver forwardly into a firing opening furnace, a pair of laterallyspaced upstanding longitudinally extending vanes at the delivery end ofsaid conduit in the path of the fuel for dividing the rising column offuel into a plurality of streams, said vanes extending into the deliveryportion of said chamber, a deflector at the forward end of each of saidvanes curving laterally from the plane of said vane, said defiectorscurving away from each other, the forward ends of said deflectors beinga substantial distance in the furnace and means at the rear of saidvanes arranged to emit a blast of fluid under pressure against therising fuel for projecting it through said chamber and said firingopening, said defiectors being adapted to intercept and laterallydeflect a portion of the projected fuel to the rear corners of thefurnace.

10. In combination with a furnace having a wall with a ring openingtherethrough, a stoker fuel discharge conduit communicating with saidfiring opening, a distributor plate extending forwardly from saiddischarge conduit, the forward end of said plate being a substantialdistance in the furnace forward of said furnace wall, means rearward ofsaid plate for projecting fuel thereacross into the iirebox, a pair oflaterally spaced deflectors disposed immediately over said plate andinward of the side edges thereof, each of said deiiectors curvingforwardly and laterally away from the other toward a lrespective sideedge of the plate, the forward ends of said deectors being a substantialdistance in the furdeectors being mounted for pivotal movement about anupstanding axis and means for moving said deflectors about saidupstanding axes, said cleectors being adapted to intercept and laterallydeflect a portion of the projected fuel to the rear corners of thefurnace.

11. In a furnace having an upright wall provided with a firing openingtherethrough, a stoker fuel discharge conduit communicating with saidfurnace through said firing opening, and means for urging fuel throughsaid discharge conduit.

in combination, a pressure fluid jet head at the lower portion of saidfiring opening, said pressure fluid jet head having a wall, said wallbeing apertured below the horizontal medial plane of the mouth of saiddischarge conduit for the emission of a laterally distended pressurefluid blast against the fuel delivered thereto from said dischargeconduit for projecting the fuel toward the furnace, a wall formationdisposed above the level of said jet head and extending acrosssubstantially the width of said firing opening, fuel diverting means fordistributing fuel laterally including a pair of oppositely directedlaterally yspaced elements disposed beneath said wall formation andarranged with their outer ends extending forward of the upright furnacewall and with the inner ends thereof extending rearwardly of the outerends and spaced inwardly of the lateral limits of said wall formation,said wall formation limiting upward movement of such portions of thefuel which are carried thereagainst by the pressure fluid blast issuingfrom said jet head, and operable means for controlling the fue]distributing action of said diverting means.

JOHN W. MYERS.

